Brief overview of COVID-19 impact on drug use situation as well as on the operations of the drug treatment services and harm reduction programmes in Central Asia

UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia has conducted a rapid assessment of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the drug use situation in Central Asia, as well as on drug treatment and harm reduction services. The rapid assessment examined publications, reports and other informational materials available on the Internet, data provided by drug treatment services, NGOs working with people who use drugs (PWUD) in harm reduction programmes in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Several key informants – who work directly with people who use drugs and are familiar with the local drug scene – were also interviewed.